us, as no doubt, Frenchman-like, they would take very good care to come strong-handed." "That we may depend on. Some very formidable force, at the very lowest. A military disposition might be made, in defense of the island, out of all question, and according to the art of war, though we would probably fail in the force necessary to carry out the design

in any very creditable manner. In the first place, a

detachment should be sent off to the shore, with orders to annoy the enemy in landing. A strong party ought instantly to be thrown into the block - house, as the citadel, for on that all the different detachments would naturally fall back for support, as the French advanced; and an entrenched camp might be laid on around the stronghold, as it would be very unmilitary indeed to let the foe get near enough to the foot of the walls to mine them. Chevaux-de-frise would keep the cavalry in check, and as for the artillery, redoubts should be thrown up, under cover of yon woods. Strong skirmishing parties, moreover, would be exceedingly serviceable in retarding the march of the enemy; and these different huts, if properly picketed and ditched, would be converted into very eligible positions for that object."

"Whe-e-w! quartermaster. And who the devil is to find all the men to carry out such a plan?"

"The king, out of all question, Master Cap. It is his quarrel, and it's just he should bear the burden o' it."

"And we are only six! This is fine talking, with a vengeance. You could be sent down to the shore to oppose the landing, Mabel might skirmish with her tongue at least, the soldier's wife might act chevauxde-frise, to entangle the cavalry, the corporal should command the entrenched camp, his three men could occupy the five huts, and I would take the block-house. Whe-e-e-w, you describe well, lieutenant, and should have been a limner instead of a soldier!"

"Na-I've been very literal and upright in my exposition of matters. That there is no greater force here

to carry out the plan is a fault of his majesty's ministers, and none of mine."

"But should our enemy really appear," asked Mabel, with more interest than she might have shown had she not remembered the guest in the hut, "what course ought we to pursue?

"My advice would be to attempt to achieve that, pretty Mabel, which rendered Xenophon so justly celebrated." "I think you mean a retreat, though I half guess at your allusion."

"You've imagined my meaning from the possession of a strong native sense, young lady. I am aware that your worthy father has pointed out to the corporal certain modes and methods by which he fancies this island could be held in case the French should discover its position; but the excellent sergeant, though your father, and as good a man in his duties as ever wielded a spontoon,1 is not the great Lord Stair,2 or even the Duke of Marlborough. I'll no deny the sergeant's merits in his particular sphere, though I cannot exaggerate qualities, however excellent, into those of men who may be, in some trifling degree, his superiors. Sergeant Dunham has taken. counsel of his heart instead of his head, in resolving to issue such orders; but if the fort fall, the blame will lie on him that ordered it to be occupied, and not on him whose duty it was to defend it. Whatever may be the determination of the latter, should the French and their allies land, a good commander never neglects the preparations necessary to effect a retreat; and I would advise Master Cap, who is the admiral of our navy, to have a boat in readiness to evacuate the island if need comes to need. The largest boat that we have left carries a very

1 [A spear-like weapon having a shaft about half the length of that of the ordinary pike. It was formerly carried by infantry officers, and was also sometimes armed with a hook and used for arresting malefactors.]

2 [John Dalrymple, the second Earl of Stair, 1673-1747, served throughout the wars of William III. in Flanders, became aide-de-camp to the Duke of Marlborough in 1703, and subsequently general, minister plenipotentiary to Paris, ambassador, field-marshal and general of the marines.]

ample sail, and by hauling it round here and mooring it under those bushes there will be a convenient place for a hurried embarkation, — and then you'll perceive, pretty Mabel, that it is scarce fifty yards before we shall be in a channel between two other islands, and hid from the sight of those who may happen to be on this."

If

"All that you say is very true, Mr. Muir; but may not the French come from that quarter themselves? it is so good for a retreat, it is equally good for an ad

"They'll no have the sense to do so discreet a thing," returned Muir, looking furtively and a little uneasily around him; "they 'll no have sufficient discretion. Your French are a head-over-heels nation, and usually come forward in a random way; so we may look for them, if they come at all, on the other side of the island."

The discourse now became exceeding desultory, touching principally, however, on the probabilities of an invasion and the best means of meeting it.

To most of this Mabel paid but little attention, though she felt some surprise that Lieutenant Muir, an officer whose character for courage stood well, should openly recommend an abandonment of what appeared to her to be doubly a duty, her father's character being connected Iwith the defense of the island. Her mind, however, was so much occupied with her guest that, seizing the first favorable moment, she left the table and was soon in her own hut again. Carefully fastening the door, and seeing that the simple curtain was drawn before the single little window, Mabel next led the Dew-of-June, or June, as she was familiarly termed by those who spoke to her in English, into the outer room, making signs of affection and confidence.

"I am glad to see you, June," said Mabel, with one of her sweetest smiles, and in her own winning voice; "very glad to see you-what has brought you hither, and how did you discover the island?"

"Talk slow," said June, returning smile for smile, and pressing the little hand she held with one of her own,

that was scarcely larger, though it had been hardened by labor, "more slow too quick."

Mabel repeated her questions, endeavoring to repress the impetuosity of her feelings, and she succeeded in speaking so distinctly as to be understood.

“June friend," returned the Indian woman.

"I believe you, June - from my soul I believe you; what has this to do with your visit?"

"Friend come to see friend," answered June, again smiling openly in the other's face.

"There is some other reason, June; else would you never run this risk, and alone; you are alone, June?" "June wid you; no one else. June come alone, paddle

canoe.

"I hope so I think so I know so. nay, would not be treacherous with me, June?" 66 'What treacherous?" "You would not betray me the French to the Iroquois shook her head earnestly scalp?"

You

would not give me to to Arrowhead " June

"you would not sell my

Here June passed her arm fondly around the slender waist of Mabel, and pressed her to her heart, with a tenderness and affection that brought tears into the eyes of our heroine. It was done in the fond, caressing manner of a woman, and it was scarcely possible that it should not obtain credit for sincerity, with a young and ingenuous person of the same sex. Mabel returned the pressure, and then held the other off at the length of her arm, looking her steadily in the face, and continued her inquiries.

"If June has something to tell her friend, let her speak plainly," she said. "My ears are open."

"June 'fraid Arrowhead kill her."

"But Arrowhead will never know it."

Mabel's blood

mounted to her temples, as she said this; for she felt that she was urging a wife to be treacherous to her husband. "That is, Mabel will not tell him."

"He bury tomahawk in June's head."

"That must never be, dear June; I would rather you should say no more than run this risk."

"Blockhouse good place to sleep good place to

stay."

"Do you mean that I may save my life by keeping in the block-house, June? Surely, surely, Arrowhead will not hurt you for telling me that. He cannot wish me any great harm, for I never injured him.”

66

Arrowhead wish no harm to handsome paleface," returned June, averting her face, and, though she always spoke in the soft, gentle voice of an Indian girl, permitting its notes to fall so low as to cause them to sound melancholy and timid; "Arrowhead love paleface girl."

Mabel blushed, she knew not why, and, for a moment, her questions were repressed by a feeling of inherent delicacy. But it was necessary to know more, for her apprehensions had been keenly awakened, and she resumed her inquiries.

"Arrowhead can have no reason to love or to hate me," she said. "Is he near you?"

"Husband always near wife, here," said June, laying her hand on her heart.

"Excellent creature! But, tell me, June, ought I to keep in the block-house to-day - this morning - now ? "Block-house very good good for squaw.

house got no scalp."

Block

"I fear I understand you only too well. Do you wish to see my father?"

"No here; gone away."

"You cannot know that, June; you see the island is full of his soldiers."

"No full; gone away, here June held up four of her fingers; "so many red-coats."

"And Pathfinder would you not like to see the Pathfinder? he can talk to you in the Iroquois tongue." "Tongue gone wid him," said June, laughing; "keep tongue in his mout'."

There was something so sweet and contagious in the infantile laugh of an Indian girl, that Mabel could not